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Summary
Summary
Dr. Horatio Jackson wasn't necessarily a betting man. But in 1903, he overheard a stranger saying that it was just not possible to drive across the United States in one of those unreliable, newfangled automobiles. Jackson disagreed - he believed in the future of the automobile. So he made a $50 bet with the man that he could drive a car from San Francisco to New York. Jackson bought a used Winton automobile, hired a mechanic named Crocker, packed some supplies, and adopted Bud, a bulldog who became their mascot. The trio's only goal was to make it from San Francisco all the way to New York City in one piece. Yet 5,600 miles and 63 1/2 days later, what they actually did was make history. This true story is based on Jackson's own account of the first automobile trip across the United States.
Find out more about this fascinating story by watching the book trailer:
Jackson and Bud's Bumpy Ride Book Trailer: Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-Short sentences and readable prose capture much of the triumph and challenge of the 63-day trip undertaken in 1903 by Horatio Jackson, who was motivated by a $50 bet, and Sewall J. Crocker, his mechanic. Along the way, they picked up Bud, a goggles-wearing white bull dog. There were virtually no paved roads and no roadside amenities, and the Winton auto broke down frequently. Grasshoppers, mosquitoes, deserts, and mud added to the adventure. An entry for June 20, "Lost Near Green River, Wyoming," describes a miserable encounter with rain that sank the vehicle deep into the mud. The animated, cartoon illustrations are lighthearted and detailed, and add much to the narrative. Readers will be amused to find that the grueling journey cost Jackson $8000, all for a $50 bet that he never collected. Although the author includes fictionalized dialogue and is not clear about the authenticity of the dated entries, the afterword provides additional historical information and archival photographs.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Horn Book Review
Amusing cartoons illustrate the story of the first transcontinental car trip: a 1903 adventure completed by Dr. Horatio Jackson, mechanic Sewall J. Crocker, and a bulldog named Bud. Upbeat but choppy present-tense text outlines the journey's pitfalls including mud-soaked roads and flying grasshoppers. An afterword, including archival photographs, provides historical context and information about the three characters' later lives. Reading list, websites. Bib. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Two men and a dog set off on the first transcontinental car trip in this fetching re-creation of a true story. Responding to a $50 bet, Horatio Jackson hires a mechanic, buys a 20-horsepower Winton (this was 1903) and sets out from San Francisco, acquiring a bulldog along the way. Considering that there were but 150 miles of paved road in the whole country at the timeand neither gas stations nor many road signstheir 5,600-mile journey to New York, accomplished in just 63.5 days, stands as a triumph of sheer perseverance. In his cartoon pictures Hargis depicts all three of his goggle-wearing travelers having the time of their lives, determinedly riding their increasingly mud-spattered horseless carriage through mountains, deserts and storms. The author sticks closely to the historical record in her present-tense narrative and layers in more detail, plus photos, in a closing note. Though she doesn't fill in all the blankswhere, for instance, did they find gas and spare parts?her invitation to clamber aboard will be hard to resist. (Informational picture book. 7-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
It might be difficult for children to imagine a time when cars didn't rule the road, and roads themselves didn't rule the landscape, but this true account will take them back to an era when that scenario seemed unlikely. In 1903, Horatio Jackson wagered that he could drive a horseless buggy across the country, and puttered out from San Francisco to New York with a mechanic buddy. En route, they pick up the quintessential driving partner, a dog named Bud, who becomes a focal point for all the people marveling at the sensational driving machine blowing through town at upward of 30 miles per hour. Setting up the blueprint for countless cross-country road trips to come, they encounter all manner of breakdowns, tough luck, and rousing adventure along the way. Hargis' glib cartoon illustrations of the begoggled trio and their clanging, mud-spattered auto are a terrific match to the lighthearted narrative. An afterword provides a deeper appreciation for just how remarkable and historical their adventure really was. Easily accesible history here.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2009 Booklist
